We are part of a complex structure when we work in a team. A team is a complex machine that has many moving parts. All of those parts must work together. While we can use research to solve problems, it is more important to understand why these problems occur.
We can fix the problems and prevent them from happening again if we understand the causes of team dysfunction. But we must look in the right areas.
My research revealed 4 reasons why a team is dysfunctional.
Do you prefer to watch than read? You can see the video below.
1. Your team is cross-functional.
Cross-functional teams look good on paper. They are supposed to help companies make the most of their workers. Behnam Tabrizi, however, found that 75% of 95 cross-functional teams were dysfunctional when he surveyed them for a Harvard Business Review article.
Tabrizi used five criteria to measure team dysfunction:
A budget must be met
Keeping to your schedule
Respecting specifications
Meeting customer expectations
Keeping in line with corporate goals
All dysfunctional teams failed at least three of these criteria.
Tabrizi explained it like this:
Lack of a systemic approach to cross-functional teams is a common reason for failure. Cross-functional teams can become a mess if they lack direction, clear governance, lack of accountability, goals that are vague and specific, and organizations that fail to prioritize cross-functional projects’ success. They don’t have a clear goal and don’t know where to begin.
You can make some key changes if you are part of a cross functional team.
Make sure that the team is managed by a senior leader. Tabrizi points out that “unclear governance” can kill cross-functional teams. Make sure governance is clear and present.
Make sure that the team has a common goal that aligns with the company’s goals. A team that doesn’t see the bigger picture has a high chance of failing. Each member of the team should have a clear understanding of the objectives. These objectives should align with corporate.
Encourage team members to share information about project specifications and requirements. Each team member should be aware of any budget restrictions. Everyone should be aware of any guidelines that are being used for the project.
It is often possible to solve problems by being aware of the inherent problems that cross-functional teams face. You can target and address the root cause of the problem more easily if you are aware of it.
2. Your team is not collaborating.
Collaboration is the key to a successful team. We’ve all been in teams that didn’t have everyone pulling their weight. Sometimes, a team can appear to be made up of multiple people instead of one.
But there is a more difficult question: Why is team collaboration important? Is it enough if each member of a team can contribute their own weight? The answer is no.
Let’s look at the classroom as an analog to the workplace to find out why. Researchers at Edith Cowan University in Australia conducted a study that examined 2 teams: 1 was successful and one was unsuccessful.
They discovered that the team members who failed were more focused on their own tasks than contributing to the group. They were also poor communicators and did not want to discuss problems.
The successful team, on the other hand, felt that they had a responsibility towards each other and that the success or failure of the project was dependent upon each member’s contribution.
Collaboration is best described in the age-old maxim, “Two heads better than one.” While one person may have great ideas in isolation, in a team environment where others are providing feedback, those ideas tends to flourish and create.
